St. Landry democrat., 1887-03-26

the common coarse rusJlan suit or an ar
tisan. The face is hidden; over it mask
Of black satin is drawn carefully. This
gives u last touch of terror to presence
already big with fearful mystery in the
eyes of the poor girl gazing At it, in {.
srellboun nd anguish from over the frillel
and dainty linen sheeting.
It Is an impossible thing. in spite Of al
wise writer's to the contrary, TO account
for human feeling-tO arrange for what
it will cause the owner of it to do or say
on certain occasions and under certain
circumstances.
Nillicent, a moment ago more dead
than alive, when her fear was hidden
from her, now that it appears before her
in flesh aud blood and an abominably
bad suit of clothes, feels her soul rise
within her, her courage grow apace, and
hitting her eyes-though still in very
agony of doubt and horror-she stares at
the intruder with some small semblance
of defiance.
The intruder however, being no doubt
q man of base mind, to whom lofty senti-
ments are unknown, returns her would be
naughty glance through his mask with
an air calm IS a summer eve.
'IeC Vpf ne SayS-uelt1ei uAoic Ao1
loss, but just this concisely.
1t il demand that Miss Grey in her
newborn fit of courage sees fit to scorn.
Il shall not!' she says from her strong
hold behind the bedclothes.
However ANONYMOUSLY she behaves
afterward, it must now be said OF her
that she rs filled with high courage.
"Won't your says the man in fust-
10 rt- u!
saueaky; not-as Miss Grey remarks, even
at this awful molnent-like the voice of
any human thing she has ever heard.
81 give you just three minutes to get
into your clothes: no more. Look sharp,
and never mind your hair That is
woman's first thought, isn't it' But it
must 20 for once"
He laughs in so suppressed u fashion
that she hardly knows what the laughter
is like: but that it Is wild and reckless,
and decidedly mirthful, is apparent to
her 1t did not declare itself to her then,
but afterward it occurred to her that his
whole air was hardly in accord with the
fustian.
II shall not STIR" she says valorously.
"Then regret to say that must assist
you" returns be, advancing toward her
slowly.
THIS Settles it, OF course Her high born
courage fades. evaporates. Her spirit
dies within her. With both hands she
clings to the bedclothes.
"No, nor she gasps. II will get up
only-oniy'f-
''Gos That of course says the man
SIS agreeable az he can in his squeaky
tones. 81 shall go to the next room, for
precisely five minutes by my-no, by
the way-your watch. Don't, let me adj
wise you, let it be longer
He strides toward the door By which
he has entered, and then suddenly stops
short So does her heart Once again
she had dwelled upon the hope of what
q ringing OF the bell might bring forth;
but, as il tho mysterious being had read
her Utmost soul, he now turns to her.
'By the bye" he says, ito ring your
bell may suggest itself to you. You
might ring thousand bells in this house.
/ verify believe, without result; but still
decline to take the chance. After all,
think shall stay here, In this remote
corner, while you put on your dressing
gown
tsOh, no,''
The words break from Millicent des-
perateiy.
''Nos Yoa would prefer nots Butt
Il swear to you / will not ring the
bell, /" declares she wildly. Il don't know
why You wish nae to rise; but yet give
you my word will not touch the bell
If you will only go into that next room
and give me the five minutes you have
promised"
"a woman's oath Is not worth half
penny, to say nothing of her word" says
the stranger pleasantly. '<But still,
will grant your request with just this last
word. If you play me false, il you seek
to summon aid In any way, | shall''-
drawing revolver from his pocket and
handling it tenderly-"blow your brains
out!''
The words fall from him in a whisper
--delicately-so mildly, indeed, that no
suspicion of violence should rest with
them. Yet Millieent, as the door closes
behind him, shudders vehemently, and
her teeth chatter as though she has been
stricken with sudden chill
With trembling haste she springs from
her bed, hurries ON her clothes, and hav-
ing covered herself finally with a soft
warm dressing gown, stands shivering
with expectation upon the carpet. She
must have got through her task with far
greater speed than she had imagined-in
three minutes, instead of the allotted
five, as a good while elapses from the
time she had finished her hurried dress,
Ing to the dreaded moment when again
aer foe appears before her.
"You are paragon, he says. PER
nit me to congratulate you. | said five
mtnntes-I gave you seven; it appears
three would have been sufficient. But
now to business. Where are those sap
phirc nd diamond ornaments that have
made you the envy of all beholders this
season, and added faint luster to the
brilliancy of your charmss'
Yes-certainly his manners are not in
keeping with his clothes!
my sapphiresF' gasps she feebly.
"And diamondsl Do not detract from
their value. Comen'-sharply- us
have no nonsense. know you keep them
in this room or the one beyond; but
wheres assure you'll beg you to believe
that would not for worlds have reused